Self-adjusting clutch

ABSTRACT

A self-adjusting clutch mechanism has a pressure plate, a wear compensation plate, a wear sensor adjusting plate, a wear sensor, a clutch cover, a first screw thread, and a second screw thread. The mechanism on the clutch pressure plate can keep clutch pedal load and clutch clamp load constant.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The invention is related to the mechanism in the clutch pressure plate keeping both clutch pedal load and clutch clamp load constant.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

Clutch pedal load and clutch clamp load change in case of wear in the clutch disc facings if the clutch pressure plate does not include an automated adjusting mechanism to keep the diaphragm spring working position stable.

Clutch pedal load gradually increases as long as the diaphragm spring working position varies due to the wear of the facings and may reach a load level troubling the driver comfort. In addition, the clutch clamp load changes over time owing to the same reason and clutch becomes unusable if the load decreases below the minimum clamp load value needed for engaging.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thanks to the invention, the clutch clamp load value is kept constant without being linked with the amount of facings' wear. Additionally, the driver comfort is ensured by the invention as the clutch pedal load remains constant even if facings continue to wear. The invention compensates facings' wear therefore clutch pressure plate also has a longer lifetime with same characteristics.

The invention has a self-adjusting mechanism in the clutch pressure plate. The facings of the clutch disc are worn over the time on account of engaging process and consequently their thicknesses decrease. Pressure plate moves with the same amount of total decrement in thickness towards to clutch disc. This displacement of pressure plate alters the working position of diaphragm spring which leads to change the clutch clamp load and clutch pedal load. The invented mechanism compensates the relevant value of the facings' wear to keep the diaphragm spring to maintain its initial working position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. (1) Self-Adjusting Clutch Section-1

FIG. (2) Self-Adjusting Clutch Section-2

FIG. (3) Pressure Plate

FIG. (4) Wear Compensation Plate

FIG. (5) Wear Sensor Adjusting Plate

FIG. (6) Wear Sensor

FIG. (7) Pressure Plate with Self-Adjusting Mechanism-1

FIG. (8) Pressure Plate with Self-Adjusting Mechanism-2

FIG. (9) Self-Adjusting Clutch

INDEX EXPLANATIONS INDICATED IN FIGURES

-   -   (1) Pressure. Plate     -   (2) Wear Compensation Plate     -   (3) Wear Sensor Adjusting Plate     -   (4) Wear Sensor     -   (5) Adjustment Roller     -   (6) Mechanism Cover     -   (7) Diaphragm Spring     -   (8) Clutch Cover     -   (9) Strap     -   (10) Disc Spring     -   (11) Clutch Cover Lug     -   (12) Screw Thread-1     -   (13) Screw Thread-2     -   (14) Wear Sensor Adjusting Distance     -   (15) Wear Sensor Contact Surface     -   (16) Wear Sensor Mounting Surface

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Having a rotational kinetic energy to compel the plates to move via their screw thread is the key principle for the invention. The rotations transmitted from engine crankshaft to flywheel load the rotational kinetic energy to the wear compensation plate (2) and wear sensor adjusting plate (3) to move via their screw threads (12), (13) in order to make wear compensation by the amount the wear sensor (4) detects. The mechanism works as mentioned below.

The wear sensor (4) is mounted on the pressure plate (1) from its mounting surface (16) and in contact with wear compensation plate (2), wear sensor adjusting plate (3) and clutch cover lug (II) from its contact surface (15). If the thickness of facing decreases, the pressure plate moves towards the clutch disc. The wear sensor (4) also moves with the pressure plate (1) while its contact surface (15) keeps in contact with the clutch cover (8) lug (11), the distance (14) between wear sensor contact surface (15) and its mounting surface (16) increases as much as the total decrement in facing's thickness. This movement creates a gap, equal to the total decrement in the fixing thickness, among the wear sensor contact surface (15) and, both wear compensation plate (2) and wear sensor adjusting plate (3).

In this new position, wear sensor adjusting plate (3) can start to relatively rotate by its kinetic energy depending on the change in engine speed and it moves up by relatively rotating around the pressure plate (1) via its screw thread (12) until re-setting contact again with the wear sensor surface (15) to stop relative rotation. With this re-contact, wear sensor (4) is adjusted in the new-distance (14) position. The rollers (5) provide one way rotation for wear sensor adjusting plate (3) by preventing the movement in the opposite direction. Wear compensation plate (2) maintains its initial position while being under diaphragm spring (7) force.

When the diaphragm spring (7 is moved by clutch bearing for the disengagement process, the force applied by the diaphragm spring (7) on the wear compensation plate (2) begins to fade away and the wear compensation plate (2) starts to relatively rotate by its kinetic energy depending on the change in engine speed and it moves up by relatively rotating around the pressure plate (1) via its screw thread (13) until re-setting contact again with the wear sensor surface (15) to stop relative rotation. With this re-contact, wear sensor adjusting plate (3) compensates the total decrement in the thickness of clutch disc's facings. The rollers (5) provide one way rotation for wear compensation plate (3) by preventing the movement in the opposite direction. The diaphragm spring is adjusted to its initial working position and the compensation-adjusting process is completed b′ the end of this movement. 

1. A self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate comprising a pressure plate, a wear compensation plate, a wear sensor adjusting plate, a wear sensor, adjustment rollers, a mechanism cover, a diaphragm spring, a clutch cover, a strap, a disc spring/fulcrum ring, a clutch cover lug, a first screw thread and a second screw thread.
 2. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 1, wherein the wear sensor is mounted on the pressure plate from its pressure plate mounting surface and in contact with wear compensation plate, wear sensor adjusting plate and clutch cover lug from it's a contact surface.
 3. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 2, wherein the wear sensor moves with the pressure plate and the adjusting distance between wear sensor contact surface and its mounting surface increases as much as the total decrement in facing's thickness.
 4. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 1, wherein the wear sensor adjusting plate that relatively rotate by its kinetic energy depending on the change in engine speed and moves up by relatively rotating around the pressure plate via the first screw thread until re-setting contact again with the wear sensor surface to stop relative rotation.
 5. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 1, wherein the rollers provide one way rotation for the wear sensor adjusting plate by preventing the movement in the opposite direction.
 6. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 1, wherein the wear compensation plate maintains its initial position while being under diaphragm spring force.
 7. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm spring force disappears on the wear compensation plate as a result of the force applied on the diaphragm spring by the clutch bearing.
 8. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 7, wherein the wear sensor plate relatively rotate by its kinetic energy depending on the change in engine speed and it moves up by relatively rotating around the pressure plate via the second screw thread until re-setting contact again with the wear sensor surface to stop relative rotation.
 9. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 7, the rollers provide one way rotation for wear compensation plate by preventing the movement in the opposite direction. 